Room illuminator



2 SHEETS -SHEET 1 A ll . INVENTOR. O55K7 z. 5/1/4 14/ A ZZZEA/EX Oct. 30, 1951 R. P. SHAW ROOM ILLUMINATOR Filed Nov. 26, 1948 Oct. 30, 1951' R. P. SHAW ROOM ILLUMINATOR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 26, 1948 JNVENTOR. @5527 R 5H/1W. BY W 47mm Patented Get. 30, 1 951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,572,957 ROOM ILLUMINATOR RobertP. Slhaw, Pelham Manor, N. Y.

Application November 26, 1948, Serial No. 61,969

2 Claims.

This invention relates .o new and useful improvements in room illuminators.

More particularly, the invention proposes a room illuminator which is characterized by a plurality of reflecting vanes which may be adjusted to various angular positions so as to reflect either natural sources of outside light into rooms, or artificial sources of light from various areas to other areas.

An important feature of the new room illuminator resides in the construction of the vanes. It is proposed to characterize these vanes by one or more mirrored glass surfaces cemented together back to back, or other types and kinds of mirrored surfaces cemented together back to backer one mirrored surface, and a non-reflecting or other type of surface cemented together back to back.

Itis also proposed to employ a central nonshatterable sheet between the two mirrored glass surfaces of each vane, or between the other surfaces of the vanes. Preferably, the non-shatterable sheet may be Bristol board or other suitable cardboard, or other materials in order to strengthen and stiffen the vane. This arrange ment also makes the vane safer and will prevent breaking as easily as without the Bristol board or the cardboard between the mirrored surfaces. If the vanes are dropped because of the central sheet they will not shatter.

A further and important object of this invention is to provide each vane with guide clips mounted upon and projecting from the ends of the central sheet. These guide clips may be of various types and designs. In one'form'it is proposed that they be of long narrow slot formation. The main purpose of having the guide clips along the ends in the form of long" narrow slots is to accommodate hoisting ropes, and furthermore so that the design and location of the clips enable the vanes to close tightly and'eve'nly without binding, jamming, or interfering with the tapes which are used to su'ppor't' the vanes or with the hoisting ropes. The clipsalso serve to prevent the ends of the vanes from chipping or cracking. Also, when the illuininator is assembled the entire structure with the guide clips on the ends of the vanes guiding the hoisting ropes form a more compact and sturdy system. The construction reseinbles a glass mat with a protective border of rope and metal. Furthermore, by using the end guide clips and the hoisting ropes going through them the vanes are held straighter and more perfect alignment than in Venetian blinds with the holes through the 5 slats for the guide ropes.

It is furthermore proposed that another form of guiding clip be in the nature of a swivel clip. With this arrangement, as the illuininator is closed, the swivel guide clips turn leaving the hoisting ropes practically stationary. With either system of guide clips referred to, supra, it is essential that the hoisting ropesrem'ain stationary and in fixed positions so as not to interfere with the closing of the illuminator.

Another and very important object of this invention is to form the ends of the central sheet with certain angular cutouts, and to provide the guide clips with complementary shaped ends engageable in the cutouts in order that the guide clips may be securely mounted in position and will not pull out or push in during use, or at other times.

In accordance with this invention the vanes may be used ingrcups in various ways in the construction of the illuminator. In one form of the invention the illuminator is very similar to a Venetian blind with the vanes taking the place of the usual slats. With this arrangement the vanes may be tilted to various angular positions including fully opened and fully closed positions, and may be hoisted up when not in use. In another form of the room illuminator the vanes are arranged in vertical positions with the top and bottom guide clips slidably engaging top and bottom horizontal rods so that the vanes may be moved into various lateral positions and turned to various angular positions. In this form they simulate drapes. The illuminator may also be made'in combinations of horizontal and vertical vanes, and in various other architectural forms and shapes in order to fit around windows or other objects.

Various colors may also be used beneath the mirrored surfaces of the vanes to give desired color effects. Both sides of the vanes may be made in various and different tints and colors to give different colored eifects inside and out. For example, gradations of color may be used. Furthermore, the vanes may be made of various patterns and forms of glass such as stippled, pebbled, rippled, or glass with irregular surfaces may be used with mirror backing to throw light in various directions. Various designs may be etched, painted, stencilled or placed on the vanes by other methods to give different types and forms of artistic designs on the illuminator to form the interior mirror effect. Also the mirrored back may be made in irregular surfaces and patterns, and color to give various reflections.

The illuminator may be adjusted for any out- 3 side light condition. It picks up and reflects light from the outside into a room, or from other sources into a room. By this device the outside light or other sources of light may be reflected and diffused to various parts of a room, as desired. By projecting the light on a light colored ceiling even distribution of illumination may be secured. The illuminator is particularly adaptable to dark rooms. With the illuminator open it improves by reflections the view from the interior of a room to an outside area. It acts as an efficient screen from the outside looking into the room. With the illuminator open at the proper angle, due to the light reflections from the mirrored vanes, the illuminator acts as a more eifective vision barrier than a Venetian blind with the slats at the same angle. The glass vanes offer greater protection from burglars than do the conventional slats of a Venetian blind. The illuminator may also be used to conceal closets, storage areas, etc. It may be used as a display aid to throw light on the ceiling or on various parts of a room, or on furniture or other objects.

With the illuminator closed an artistic mirror effect is obtained which picks up, reflects and diffuses the existing light in a room. The location of the guide clips on the ends of the vanes with the hoisting ropes through them gives the illuminator the appearance of a glass mat which is sturdier, more compact and safer than one with the ends of the glass vanes not so joined and protected. By having the guide clips on the ends of the vanes, the illuminator may be closed tightly to completely shut off the window or other area and to make a mirror eifect inside. The illuminator is self-cleaning in that when it is closed any surface dust falls off. To clean further the illuminator may be closed and wiped off with a damp cloth, or Glass Wax may be used. The positions of the vanes may be reversed to clean the other side of the illuminator.

With the illuminator open the edges of the vanes sets up a pleasing greenish-white effect due to the light coming through the glass and reflecting through the edges. The illuminator may be used for decorative backgrounds and barriers between spaces such as in the rear of store and display windows Where it is desirable to have light come through to the store and to have both sides of the illuminator give a pleasing and decorative effect.

By using a number of pieces of mirrored glass for one or both sides of the slats of a Venetian blind and spacing them for leaving the holes for the hoisting ropes uncovered, the end clips need not be used, but strength, safety, protection and compactness will be sacrificed and the illuminator will be more complicated and more bulky.

Another object of the invention is the construction of an illuminator as described which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention,

.and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional View taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.'

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the vanes used in Figs. 1 and 2, a top portion of one end of the vane being broken away to disclose the interior construction.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on the line l4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating another design of vane.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is an inside view of another room illuminator embodying another form of this invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

The room illuminator, as disclosed in Figs. 1-4 inclusive, includes a top support l0 which may be attached'upon the top of a window frame, upon a ceiling, or upon other objects. A hori- Zontal top bar H having a horizontal axis is axially turnably mounted on the bottom of said top support I0 by the brackets I2 and 13. The bracket I3 is provided with a wheel It and adjusting gear, not shown on the drawing as such adjusting gears are well known in Venetian blinds. The wheel M is controlled by the cord l5 by which the angular position of the top bar may be varied.

Venetian blind adjusting and supporting tapes I6 are attached to and depend from the top bar I I and are for the purpose of supporting a series of vanes, namely vanes 24. These tapes l6 have the usual inner sections I8 and outer sections l9 across which the small strips 20 are mounted for supporting the vanes 24. A base bar 2| of wood, or aluminum or plastic material, or other material is attached to the bottoms of the tapes 16. A hoisting rope 2 2 has portions extending through passages in the top support It! and continues into end portions along the sides of the illuminator which are attached at their bottom ends to the base bar 2|. A plurality of vanes 24 are supported by the tapes I6.

Each of the vanes 24 includes two mirrored surfaces 25 and 26 cemented together back to back. More particularly, these mirrored surfaces are cemented upon a central non-shatterable sheet 21 of three ply Bristol board or other suitable cardboard, or other material. The mirrored surfaces 25 and 26 comprise glass plates having the usual mirroring material 28 upon their back sides. Said mirroring material 28 may be tinted for coloring the reflected light. The ends of the mirrored surfaces are formed with bevels 29 to reduce fraying of the hoisting ropes.

Guide clips 30 are mounted upon and project from the ends of the central sheets 21. More particularly, the ends of the central sheet 21 are formed with angular cuts 3|. The guide clips may be formed of round wire. The ends of the clips 3|] are flattened and bent into the shapes corresponding with the angular cuts 3|, and in this way the clips are cemented in and secured in position between the mirrored glass surfaces 25 and 26 and the central sheet 21 in order that they do not pull out or push in. Preferably, the clips 3|] are arranged to form elongated slots 32 through which the hoisting ropes 22 pass.

The vanes 24 may be adjusted to various angular positions by moving the cord l5. In this way an outside source of natural or artificial light, schematically indicated by the light rays 33 may be reflected into beams 34 directed as desired within the room.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a modified form of vane 35 is disclosed. Th vane 35 includes a central nonshatterable sheet 36 having angular end cutouts 3! into which the ends 38 of guide clips 39 are engaged. These guide clips 39 have swiveled outer rings through which the hoisting ropes may pass. The vanes 35 also include outer mirrored surfaces 49 and 41 formed from a plurality of parts having different angularly positioned refleeting surfaces 42, 43, and 44. Designs 45 are imprinted or formed in other ways on the mirrored surfaces 49 and 4|.

In Figs. 7-9 inclusive another form of the invention has been disclosed in which a plurality of vertical vanes 50 are provided with guide clips 5| upon their ends which engage horizontal rods 52 supported in brackets 53 across a window 54, or opening, or other place. The vanes 50 include central non-shatterable sheets 55. The clips 5| are mounted and project from the ends of the central sheet 55. A mirrored glass surface 56 is cemented upon one face of the central sheet 55. Another type of surface 51, such as a wooden panel or plastic surface or other material surface is mounted on the other face of the central sheet 55. The vanes 59 may be moved to various lateral positions along the rods 52. They may also be turned to various angular positions in order to reflect rays of light as desired.

The operation and use of the room illuminator is essentially as follows:

The vanes of the illuminator may be adjusted to various angular positions so as to reflect natural or artificial light sources from outside points to inside points. Moreover, the vanes may be adjusted so as to screen areas. The operation, use and advantages may be further understood by reviewing the objects portions of this specification.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the 6 right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a central non-shatterable sheet, and two glass mirrors cemented back to back upon said central sheet to form a vane which is strengthened by said central sheet, and guide clips mounted upon and projecting outwards from the ends of said central sheet in order not to cover portions of the ends of said glass mirrors.

2. In a device of the class described, a central non-shatterable sheet, and two glass mirrors cemented back to back upon said central sheet to form a vane which is strengthened by said central sheet, and guide clips mounted upon and projecting outwards from the ends of said central sheet in order not to cover portions of the ends of said glass mirrors, said central sheet having angular cuts in relation to and formed in its ends, and said clips having their ends engaging in said angular cuts in order not to pull out or push in.

ROBERT P. SHAW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,095,292 Smith May 5, 1914 1,271,800 Sutton July 9, 1918 1,271,819 Wilson et al July 9, 1918 1,551,753 Lane Sept. 1, 1925 1,639,474 Whitmore Aug. 16, 1927 2,068,977 Dodge Jan. 26, 193'? 2,135,647 Streby Nov. 8, 1938 2,152,117 Wade et al. Mar. 28, 1939 2,295,434 Stuber Sept. 8, 1992 

